"So, possibly, it was a bad idea, kissing her the day after mentioning how much you miss Zoe," Simon sighed. "I'll never understand women, especially the Fryes."

"Ain't that hard to understand," Jayne said. "No woman wants to be a replacement for the one came before her."

Wash stared at Jayne. "That's the most intelligent thing I've ever heard you say. River's really a good influence on you."

"If only we could say the same for him," Simon grumbled. "River's been saying things in Mandarin that I would expect to hear out of the mouth of a sailor."

Jayne grinned. "That girl's got a foul mouth on her," he said affectionately. "An' you should see the elf costume she -"

"I saw it in the shop," Wash interrupted. "If she tries to wear that in front of Hannah..."

"What?" Jayne smirked. "You'll bore her to death? No wonder that sexy little mama ain't jumpin' into yer bed."

Wash and Simon glared at Jayne, their expressions nearly identical.

"Must all your reactions to people be so... base?" Simon asked, shaking his head. "There is more to a woman than her appearance, you realize. Kate is a kind woman, a great mother, an excellent cook -"

"Ain't denyin' that, doc. Still, reckon she'd be a hellcat in the sack, Wash. You lemme know you ever find out."

~*~

"So?" Kaylee beamed. "That's great news!"

"Yesterday he was telling me how this was gonna be his first Christmas without his wife, Kaylee." Kate sighed.

"While he was almost naked, locked in a tiny li'l changin' room with ya." Kaylee grinned. "He was comfortable bein' that close to ya with nothin' on but his drawers. Sounds like a good sign to me."

"What if the reason he was comfortable was because he has no real feelings for me, no real attraction?" Kate frowned deeply. "He's been alone a while, Kaylee, and men have drives..."

"So do we," Kaylee pointed out. "Don'tcha wanna tear that ugly Hawaiian shirt off him and have wild monkey sex?"

Kate raised her eyebrow. "I don't think I've ever had wild monkey sex. But, okay, point tak